-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It was a mother 's worst nightmare . On March 31 , 2014 , at 11 p.m. , I received a phone call from my 25-year-old son .

`` Mom . I got lost , made a wrong turn and ended up at the Mexico border . I 've been surrounded by military , and I need you to know in case anything happens to me . ''

On April 1 , I received another phone call . `` Mom , I 've been arrested . Please get me an attorney , '' Andrew said .

It was the most frightening call of my life -- worse than the call from Afghanistan as my son explained , `` We have just been hit by an IED . ''

The call from La Mesa Prison in Tijuana , Mexico , three days later went this way : `` Mom , I am not going to make it through the night . Whatever you do , do not come down here and ask questions or do an investigation as you will be killed as well . ''

As Independence Day comes and goes this year , it is bittersweet to think about my son being bound by a felony arrest in a foreign country while we try to navigate a foreign judicial system .

To think about my son , vibrant and ambitious , being held in the bondage of incarceration is inconceivable . This young man who valiantly fought for the freedom of others , willing to die to combat the evil of oppression and violence in two tours in Afghanistan , meritoriously promoted to sergeant on the battlefield in 2012 -- and now he is languishing in a Mexican penitentiary and experiencing captivity for the first time , as a result of one wrong turn .

It is simply staggering . He has been incarcerated since April 1 , for inadvertently crossing the border with legally purchased firearms . This separation is by far more traumatic than the combat tours .

Marine ` optimistic ' he 'll soon be released

In Afghanistan , he had his Marine Corps brothers who always had his back . I feel like our executive branch has abandoned him , and it feels totally inhumane .

The White House has not responded to us despite our petition on Whitehouse.gov , which has nearly 130,000 signatures . The White House says it will respond to petitions that get 100,000 signatures in 30 days .

On a trip to Mexico in May , Secretary of State John Kerry `` raised the issue '' with authorities there .

I am outraged . Andrew 's situation should be considered a grave , serious and urgent concern .

In the past years while reading scripture , I often paused at the directive to visit those in prison . Deep in my core was the question , mingled with fear : How , who , why ? Today I have learned to walk without shame , boldly and compassionately , through the corridors of bars and locks and have a newfound perspective for those imprisoned . Incarceration of a loved one is a heart-wrenching , soul-searching experience that can debilitate , consume and potentially destroy both the captive and his free loved ones .

Marine tells of abuse in Mexican prison

It is a difficult journey , but there is rest to be found in understanding that God 's timing is perfect . I take huge comfort in that , and this is what keeps me going and fortifies my strength and helps me to persevere when I ca n't see God 's plan . The saying , `` Trust his heart when you ca n't trace his hand '' is something I really have had to implement .

Through faith , I will continue choosing not to be crippled by the weight of the dismay , trauma , and disbelief associated with this , and I will be steadfast in my determination to overcome the barriers of this injustice . My strength , focus and vision come both from the Lord and from the solidarity and outreach of so many good folks on both sides of the border and around the world . I am not journeying alone as I have poured out my broken heart to so many . And it feels as if they symbolically cupped my tears and replenish me continuously with flowing waters of hope and support .

I fear that my son 's plight is getting lost in current events happening on the ground in Mexico , but I know that through the collective strength of prayer and the unified focus of individual Americans standing together as advocates , there will be victory for Andrew .

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Mother of Marine being held in Mexico says this separation is worse than his combat tours

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Jill Tahmooressi says her son expressed fear he would not make it

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He was arrested after crossing into Mexico with several guns in his car

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Jill Tahmooressi is relying on her faith to get her through this